Separating packaged goods according to weight difference



Oct.6-,1925.

A. R. THOMPSON SEPARATING IACKAGED GOODS ACCORDING TO WEIGHT DIFFERENCE Filed June 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l mllli l SS l. I

oct. 6,1925. 1,556,048

A. R. THOMPSON SPARATING PACKAGED GOODS ACCORDING TO WEIGHT DIFFERENCE Filed June 2 1924 2 Sheets-She'ot 2 fjg. .2,

yPatented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.`

ALBERT R. THoMrsomOrgsJoerg" CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOR To ANDERSON-BARN- GRO-VRR Irre. Oc., or sAN .rosa An-@FORMA A CORPORATION OF oALIFoR-NIA.

SEPARAIING PACKAcEiScOOns ACCORDING To WEIGHT DIFFERENCE.

Application mail June 2,

To all 'whom t may concern:

a citizen of the United States, residingA at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separating Packaged Goods According to Weight Difference, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates, in general, to the separating art and, in particular, to the separation of packaged goods according to a difference in weight.

The necessity for such separation may arise from various causes. One of these, perhaps the one of most extended application, is based upon the legal requirement of full measure; and although my invention contemplates the fulfilment of this requirement, irrespective of the nature and form of the packages to be separated, I have in mind particularly its application to the detection of leaky cans from whichenough of the contents has escaped to enable their separation 'f from the tight cans because of their diminished weight, and thus to reach the ultimate purpose of setting aside the imperfect- 1y sealed goods. l

In the canning art, say, for example, as applied to the processing of milk, the filled cans are passed in continuous line procession through the necessary preheating, cooking and cooling Zones at a relatively rapid rate; and it is essential that any method or means for detecting and separating the leaks from the tight cans must necessarily be of such a character as not to interfere with the continuity and speedM of the can procession. -It is, therefore, one of the objects of my invention to provide for separating the leaks from the tight cans according to their weight difference, while said cans are in motion, and without interrupting the procession being ldelivered from the processing steps. Another object is to provide simple, effective and accuratemeans to this end.

With these and other objects in view which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the novel apparatus for separating packaged goods according to their weight difference, which I shall now fully vdescribe, it being understood that the deviceherein disclosed is illustrative, with respect to its specific details, merely .0f one form esrellr adepte@ fer @sind goede and that changes may be made in these details without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims herein.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig.4 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the cam for operating the pick-up fingers.- l -Fig; t is a detail sectional view showing a light can on the depressible or balance platform and thel pick-up fingers engaging said can.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview showing a heavy can on said platform and the pick-up fingers clearing said can.

1 is a frame in which is mounted a shaft 2 driven by a gear 3, Fig. 2, with` which meshes a pinion 4 on the main drive' shaft 5, Fig. 1, the shaft and pinion being omitted from Fig. 2 and the gear omitted from Fig. 1. v Keyed to the shaft 2 is the separating member of the machine, Which member is here shown as a turret comprising spaced side plates 6 and pocket-plates 7, the latter being secured to the inner orvopposing faces of the side plates by the screws 6 shown in Fig. 1. The plates 7 are formed with a peripheral series of outwardly open pockets 7, here shown as four in number, Fig. 1. Carried by the'frame 1, and leading tangentially to the lower descending quadrant of the turret is the inlet or feed member of the machine, here shown as an inclined runway 8 adapted to receive and advance by rolling motion packages of curved cross section, such for example, as cans.

Situated at and in immediate association with the delivery end of the runway 8 and lying below the turret, is the Weight selective member of the machine comprising a depressible platform 9 held horizontal by means of arms 10 pivoted at 11, and controlled by an adjustable Weight 12, this assembly being that of a common type of balance.

Beyond the platform 9 of the selective member is the discharge member for the heavier packages, said member being here shown as an inclined run-way 13. The delivery end of the feed runfway y8 and the receiving end of the discharge run-way 13 lie different levels, seen Fig'l, and the EIA movement or stroke ofthe selective platform 9 is between said levels.

Leading intoV the upper portion of the turret just below the circular path of thebase of the pockets 7 thereof, is the discharge member for the lighter packages, said member beingthere shown as. an inclinedrun.-` way 14.

Carried by brackets 15, Fig. 2, extending from the outer faces of the turret side-plates 6, are pick-up members 16, here shown as fingers :with hookY extremities which play into rand out offthepockets 7ofthe turret plates 7, throughopenings6 in the plates 6. Each pick-up'znger, as shown in Fig. 2, is yieldably mountedV upn 1a rockingy pin 17, its yielding being controlled'by a` spring 16; and each rockingpinf1'7 is controlledfin its movement by a spring17, said movement being effected by means of a crank a`rm118, the outerl extremity of which caI.- ries a roller 19whichtravels around a fixed cam 20 mounted in a bushing 1 of the frame 1 concentric with the shaft 2.

21, Fig.- 2, are stops to limit the outward movement of the picl'-upfingers 16.

Associated with the-,feed run-way 8 is the overlying A feed-control' member, consisting of a screw22, andlit will beg'noted, from Fig. 1, that'thethread22 of the screw gradually increases bothiv in. height and in, width from its outer to its inner'" end; The screw 22 is supported at its outer end by a frame bracket 23 andat itsinner end by the leg 24" cfa-frame bracket 24 which is carried concentrically with the shaft 2, and said screw is'rotated by means ofy a gear 25l keyedbn theshaft`2, a pinion 26 vmeshing with thesaid gear, a'shaft 27 carrying the pinion'andjournaledfat its ends in the frame brackets 23, and 24,'and. the pinions 28 andv 29 on the ends of the shaft 27 and the screw 22 respectively, and the intervening idler 30, allais seen in Fig; 1. By these transmitting` connections the feed-controlling screw is driven in predeterminedtimely relation to the rotation of the turret.

Though the invention is adaptedjfor and is applicable tothe separation ofpacka-ged goods Ofyaryin'gjforms according vto their weight differences, 'said adaptation requiring ymerely obviouschanges Vwithout departing essentially fromthe'spiritjand scope of the claims. hereunto appended, the illus-` trated'form and construction of the device herein disclosed'is intended, as heretofore stated, for the separation of packages of curved cross` section, such, for example, as product-filled cylindrical cansV as shown by 311 in Figs. 4 and 5; and, for the sake of simplicity', the operation of said machine will be so described.

VThe'cans in recumbent position and in line procession rollv along the feedrun-way 8 Vand theirvadvance is controlledv by the selective` platform 9=the "normal position ofl whichis on a level withthe, delivery end of theY feed run-way 8, as ,seen in` ig. 1,' it will remain at this elevation under; the. weight of the lighter cans, as4 indicatedf'in' Fig. VV4; butv when the heavier cansV are imposed upon it, theplatfornawill be de pressed as in Fig. 5, to a level with the dis-v charge run-way 13. The timelyrot'ation of the separating'turret withv respect vtoi the imposition of the cans yupon the selective plat-form is such that as a can reaches-'the platform, apocket 7 of the turret passes down over and-partially embraces the can but without supporting it and continues the advance ofthe' can rolling motion over the platform. Atthis; time' the pick-up fingers 16 associatedV with this pocket are projected into said*` pocket, as seen in Fig. 2. If the can is lightV and has not, therefore, depressed the platform 9', said can is held in a position sufliciently elevated to permit the entrance ofthe lingers. 16 into the depressed heads ofv the can, so that the hooks of said fingers, by engaging therim of Vthe can heads, as seen in, Fig. 4, will, as theturretr-evolves, pick the'can'up and lift it from. thek platform, and carry'it bodily to the top. of.y the turret travel. When.' this.

upper limit is reached, the vngers 16 are withdrawn, asseenin Fig. 2, andthe, can is free to be deflectedfrolnthe pocket 7 into tl; upper discharge runway 14 and carried o But ifa can be heavy, it will depress the selective platform Q'andlby so doing, thepo-- sition of the ca-n'will be such, als seen inFig.

5, that'the intruding fingers` 16 will pass above and clear it, vand thus the pocket willk simply roll the'can'off thepla'tform into the lower discharge vrun-way 13.'

It will`be seen that the detection of the leaky andconsequently lighter can andlits removal from the can procession take place without interrupting the discharging stream,

online, since these effects occurvwhile the cans `are moving over the selective platform.

Thepick-up4` members are not necessarily;

hooked fingers, such formbeing-used as best adaptedfor-'cans'with ends depressed suffi-f ciently to leaveaui'm for the hooksto engage. The pressure of the finger extremities against the can heads may alone be sufficient to lift the cans, without regardV to a rimmed periphery, or positive. friction surfaces on said extremities may be used to increase their grip. But where the hook-ends are used, the yielding of the fingers under their spring control will avoid any tendency to injure vthe can.

While, as heretofore stated, my invention is applicable to packaged goods of varying shapes, and especially to packages of curved cross section such as cans of cylindricalsecf tion, it is to be noted that this special Aap" plication results in a peculiar and inherently novel advantage which is due to the shape of the packages, namely their capability of rolling motion the result of their uniformly curved cross section. This rolling motion engendering minimum friction, while imposed upon the weight selective platform, conduces Vto sensitiveness and accuracy in the operation of the apparatus.

A 1 claim zl. Au apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight difference, comprising a depressible member adapted to differentially yield under the imposition of they packages; a movable member adapted to engage the packages while upon the depressible member andto remove them' therefrom; and supplementary package-engaging devices carried bythe movable member for selectively segregating the lighter packages.

2. An apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight difference, comprising a depressibl-e member adapted to differentially yield under the imposition of the packages; a rotatable member' adapt-ed to engage the packages while upon the depressible member; means carried by said rotatable member for engaging the packages and moving the h-eavier ones from said depressible member to one discharge; and other means carried by said rotatable member for engaging and moving the lighter ones to a separate discharge. v

3. An apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight difference, comprising a depressible member adapted to differentially yield under the Vimposition of the packages: a rotatable member having peripheral pockets adapted to embrace the packages While on the depressible memberand to move the heavier packages therefrom to one discharge; and pick-up members associated with said pockets for selectively engaging the lighter packages and carrying them to a separate discharge.

el. An apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight dierence, comprising a depressible member adapted to differentially yield under the imposition of the packages; a rotatable member having peripheral pockets adapted to embrace the packages while on the depressible member and to move the heavier packages therefromy them to a separate discharge; andmeans` for automatically throwing said pickfup members into and out of action.

5. Anlapparatus for separating packaged` goods according to weight difference com prising a depressible platform balanced;y to differentially yield under the imposition of the packages; a rotatable vturret provided with peripheral pockets adapted to embrace the packages while on the platform and to push the heavier packages therefrom to one discharge; pivotally mounted pick-up infgers carried bv theturret and playing into and out of th-e pockets thereof to engage the lighter packages and carry them to a separate discharge; and means dependent on thek turret rotation for automatically swinging said fingers into and out of action.

y 6. An apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight difference, com' prising a depressible platform balanced to differentially yield underl the imposition of the` packages; means for feeding the-packages successively to and'upon said platform while the latter is at its upper level; means forfconveying the heavier packages away from the platform when the latter is at its lower level: a rotatable member adaptedto engage the packages thereon and to move the`r heavier ones therefrom when the platform is depressed. to, its lower level; pick-up members carried by the rotatable member and adapted to engage and carry kthe lighter packages from the platform when the latter is at its upper level; means for releasing said lighter` packages from saidv pick-up members: and means for 'conveying said releasedpackages away from the rotatable member.

7. An apparatus for separating packaged' goods according to weight differenceA comprising a depressible member adapted to dif-` ferentially yield under the imposition of the packages; means for feeding the packages inv a continuous stream to and upon said depressible member; a movable member adapted to engage the packages while the latter are moving upon said depressible member and to remove them therefrom; and supplementary package-engaging devices carried by said movable member for selectively segregating the lighter packages.

8. An apparatus for separating packaged goods according to weight difference oomprising a depressible member adapted to differentially yield iuider the imposition of the packages; means for feeding the packages in a continuous stream to and upon said depressible member; a rotatable member adapted to engage the moving packages on said ai i depressible member, said rotatable member having means for continuing the movement ofthe heavier packages.A from saidv depressible'j` member to one discharge land' having other` means for selectively engaging and` the lighter packages to a sepa-rate carrying discharge.

9. An apparatus for separating packaged goodsaccording toweight difference, comprising. a, depressible platform balanced lto differentially yield under the impositionA of the. packages; a run-way for feeding the packages successively in a moving stream vto said platform; means associated with the run-'way and acting on thel packages to space them', as they .approach the, platform, suiii-y ciently to admit ofbut one packagebeing on and'm'oving over the platform at va time a` rotatable member having means :for engagfv lpackages successively in a movingstream to saidA platform; means associated; Withthe run-way and actingcongthe packagesto space themas,theyapproach the platform, suflifV ciently lto admit of but one package :being on and moving overtlie platform 'at a time; a

rotatable turretv provided with peripheral:

pockets adapted to embrace ,the packages upon the platformand to continue .thetravel of` the heavier o nes uponand from said platformA to ,one.d1s.charge; and pick-up membersfassociated with. said, pockets adapted to` engage land carry the lighter packages rto a separate (discharge. i'

" l11. Anapparatus foi separating packaged` goods. according to weight difference, come prisingv a depressible platform balanced. to`

differentially yield under the imposition of the oackaves', arun-wa. for vfeedin the, .c 7 g packagessuccessively fin a l moving streaml to l said platform; a rotatable screw'overlying the runway, having a packagelengaging threadthe effectiveV width of which gradually increases towards its discharge end whereby the packages are spaced as they approach the platform to admit of but one package to and moving over the` platform at a time; vanda rotatable member adapted/to engage each package on the platform and to continue the travel of the heavier ones upon andv from said platform to one discharge, and to carry the lighter ones to la separate discharge.

12. An apparatus for separating packaged goods accordingjto weightv difference, comprising a depressibleplatform balanced to diHerent-ially yield under the imposition of the-packages; a run-way for feeding the packages successively in a moving stream to said platform; al rotatable screw. overlying the runway, having a packagel engaging thread the effective lwidth of which grad-k ually increases towards its discharge, end whereby the packages are spaced Vas they appreachV the platform to admit of but ,one package to and moving over theplatform .at a time; and a rotatable turret .provided with periphe'rall pockets adapted to embrace the packagesl upon the platform and to continue the travel of the heavier ones uponand from said plat-form to one discharge; and pick-.up

members associated with said pockets adapted to engage and carry they lighter packages to a se arate discharge. y

13. i n apparatus for separating packagedgoods of curved cross .sectionaccording tofweight.A difference, comprising aweight selective member; means for feeding the goodsl in continuous. traveling procession with; rollingv movement to and upon said member; `meansv7 for automatically lifting from said member the rolling lighter goods to onedischarge; and means. forautomatically continuing the rolling of the heavier goods upon and from said member to a separate discharge.

In ktestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT n. THoMrsoN. 

